2025 NFL Mock Draft – Post-Combine Edition

2025 NFL Mock Draft – Post-Combine Edition

March 3, 2025

12–18 minutes

It has been a few weeks between mock drafts, but not a lot has been going on. With the combine done and over with, we finally have some movement worth talking about. Let’s dig into it, shall we?

Pick	Team	Player	2024 Stats	Commentary
1	Tennessee Titans	QB Cam Ward, Miami – 6’2, 219 lbs	305-454, 4313 yards, 39 TD, 7 INT	The Titans are in prime position to trade down here. They are not simply a quarterback away from contending, and adding extra picks to replenish a crumbling roster would be wise. I believe that Cam Ward will be the first pick in this draft. He is experienced, talented and can make all of the throws. Whether that is Tennessee, the Giants, Browns, Saints or some other team is the ultimate question.
2	Cleveland Browns	DE Abdul Carter, Penn State – 6’3, 250 lbs	68 tackles, 12 sacks	Quarterback is definitely a need for the Browns, but I think they are going to exhaust all veteran options before conceding to a draft pick. Travis Hunter may be the best talent in this draft, but Abdul Carter is not far behind, and he fills a far bigger need. Myles Garrett wants out of this losing situation, and adding Carter as a replacement would help ease a bit of the sting of trading Garrett. I should note that Abdul Carter missed the combine activities with a foot injury, but scouts are reportedly “not worried.”
3	New York Giants	QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado – 6’2, 212 lbs	353-477, 4134 yards, 37 TD, 10 INT	I cannot see a scenario where the Giants do not come away with either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders in this draft. They held on to Daniel Jones for too long, and missed out on other quarterbacks because of that. The position is simply too important. The jury is still out on Sanders, but I am a fan. He may not have a cannon arm or Ferrari-like legs, but he is savvy, tough and accurate. I believe he can be a long term starter in this league. You may see mocks where Sanders falls out of the top five, but believe me, teams need quarterbacks bad enough that he will end up a very high pick.
4	New England Patriots	WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado – 6’0, 188 lbs	96 rec, 1258 yards, 15 TD	The Patriots luck out in this mock, as they get to sit back and draft the top talent in this class. Travis Hunter could be an upper echelon receiver or cornerback in the NFL. It is up to the team drafting him to get the best value out of him. I believe Hunter would be most valuable as a full time cornerback and part time slot receiver. Either way, he would give this bland Patriots team a real superstar to build around.
5	Jacksonville Jaguars	CB Will Johnson, Michigan – 6’2, 194 lbs	14 tackles, 2 INT	The Jaguars have talent, but this is just a team that does not know how to win football games. The defense, in particular, had a very poor 2024. Will Johnson took a small step back as a junior, but still has CB1 ability. Tall and fluid, he is a real playmaker. Whether he can gain strength to hold up as a run defender will determine his ultimate ceiling.
6	Las Vegas Raiders	HB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State – 5’9, 211 lbs	374 carries, 2601 yards, 29 TD	There was a bit of a running back renaissance in 2024, with Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry carrying new teams deep into the playoffs. Pete Carroll was brought in to deliver the Raiders back to respectability, and he gets his new Marshawn Lynch with Ashton Jeanty. This may be a bit high for a running back, but Jeanty is a special talent. He is the rare running back you can build an offense around, which would be important, as the Raiders look to fix a quarterback situation that has been in flux for years.
7	New York Jets	DT Mason Graham, Michigan – 6’4, 296 lbs	46 tackles, 3.5 sacks	The Jets brought in Aaron Glenn as the new head coach, and the defensive minded hire could play a part in which direction they go here. This is a class heavy on defensive prospects, and Mason Graham is the best available. He would be a great fit next to Quinnen Williams at tackle. Graham may not be an athletic freak, but is a safe, complete prospect, adept against the run with sneaky pass rushing ability as well.
8	Carolina Panthers	OLB Jalon Walker, Georgia – 6’1, 243 lbs	61 tackles, 6.5 sacks	Bryce Young still has a long way to go, but his development since regaining his starting job has been encouraging enough that Carolina can look at shoring up an abysmal defense with this pick. Jalon Walker continues to rise in my mocks, and is now up to number 8. He is a simply a defender; line him up at linebacker or defensive end, and watch him make plays.
9	New Orleans Saints	WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona – 6’4, 219 lbs	84 rec, 1319 yards, 8 TD	The Saints are probably the one franchise in the NFL that just needs a complete reset. Get the bad contracts off the books, and start from scratch. Instead, this franchise continues to kick the can down the road. One of the teams many needs is additional pass catchers to take the pressure off of Chris Olave. Tetairoa McMillan would be a solid counterpart. He measured in at a huge 6’4, 219 lbs, and reminds me of college-era Mike Evans, with his ability to stretch his arms and catch anything near him.
10	Chicago Bears	OT Will Campbell, LSU – 6’6, 319 lbs	N/A	The Bears first, second and third needs are offensive line. Plainly stated, every player, other than Darnell Wright, should be upgraded. It is important for the future success of Caleb Williams. Fortunately, Will Campbell is available here. He showed his athletic ability during his combine performance. Worries about his smallish hands and reach would be alleviated if he moved inside to guard, which he would most likely do in Chicago.
11	San Francisco 49ers	DE Mykel Williams, Georgia – 6’5, 260 lbs	21 tackles, 5 sacks	The 49ers came into the season with Super Bowl aspirations, but injuries have exposed an alarming lack of youth and depth on this roster, which essentially ruined the season. Both lines could use major upgrades. Mykel Williams never quite dominated statistically for Georgia, but remains a tantalizing talent, with the ability to make Pro Bowls during his prime. I doubt he falls too far on draft day.
12	Dallas Cowboys	DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss – 6’4, 296 lbs	48 tackles, 6.5 sacks	Three of the Cowboys top four defensive tackles are free agents. I am a huge Walter Nolen fan. The former top overall recruit slowly developed during his Texas A&M stint, but really took off after moving on to Ole Miss. Talented and hard working, he excels against the run and has a developing pass rushing arsenal.
13	Miami Dolphins	OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas – 6’5, 315 lbs	N/A	The Dolphins defense is in need of reinforcements at all three levels, but offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. is too talented to pass up here. There are scenarios where he could go in the top five, so landing him here is a steal. He has quite a bit of experience blocking for pro style quarterbacks, and could allow Miami to move on from the oft-injured Terron Armstead. Even if he has to move inside to guard, it is not like the Dolphins do not need help there as well.
14	Indianapolis Colts	TE Tyler Warren, Penn State – 6’6, 256 lbs	104 rec, 1233 yards, 8 TD	The jury is still out on Anthony Richardson, but the Colts should give him more weapons, especially an intermediate safety blanket like Tyler Warren. The Colts have not had an explosive tight end in years, and Warren is coming off one of the best college seasons we have ever seen from the position. He hauled in over 100 passes for the Nittany Lions.
15	Atlanta Falcons	DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M – 6’5, 267 lbs	31 tackles, 1.5 sacks	Like most teams, the Falcons are in need of additional pass rushing help. Shemar Stewart was the big winner of the 2025 combine. He looked like a Myles Garrett clone out there, running a 4.59 50 yard dash in a 6’5, 267 pound frame. His college production leaves a bit to be desired, with three years of 1.5 sacks a season, but his combine performance stamped his ticket to the first round.
16	Arizona Cardinals	OLB Mike Green, Marshall – 6’3, 251 lbs	81 tackles, 17 sacks	Arizona has a playoff worthy offense, but the defense is still a work in progress. The Cardinals have several free agents from its underwhelming front seven group, making pass rush a premium need. Mike Green led all of college football with 17 sacks in 2024. He is quick, strong and has the look of a classic 3-4 edge rusher.
17	Cincinnati Bengals	CB Jahdae Barron, Texas – 5’11, 194 lbs	67 tackles, ,5 INT	Despite a five game winning streak to end the season, it was too little, too late for the Bengals. They insist they are going to pay Tee Higgins, which would tie up an exuberant amount of cap space in the passing game, making smart defensive draft picks even more important. Jahdae Barron had a fantastic senior season for Texas, winning the Jim Thorpe award as the best defensive back in college football. He also alleviated some athleticism concerns by running a blazing 4.39 40-yard dash at the combine.
18	Seattle Seahawks	OG Armand Membou, Missouri – 6’4, 332 lbs	N/A	Other than Charles Cross, the Seattle offensive line leaves a lot to be desired. It would be a surprise if they did not come out of the first two rounds without a new starter. As I am writing this, offensive linemen have yet to perform bench press workouts, but Armand Membou is already one of the big winners of the combine weekend. He ran a 4.91 40-yard dash as a 332 pound man. I had him as a top 50 pick before the combine, and he could easily come off the board in the first round now. Despite his size, he has the athleticism to remain at tackle in the NFL, but I think he has Pro Bowl potential as a guard.
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	OLB James Pearce Jr., Tennessee – 6’5, 245 lbs	38 tackles, 7.5 sacks	Tampa Bay has struggled to generate a consistent pass rush from its outside linebackers. Most of their rotational guys are upcoming free agents, further compounding the issue. James Pearce Jr. may not be strong enough to hold up full time against the run, but he could excel as a situational pass rusher. He ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at the combine, further confirming his athletic ability.
20	Denver Broncos	WR Luther Burden III, Missouri – 6’0, 206 lbs	61 rec, 676 yards, 6 TD	Things are quickly looking up in Denver. Bo Nix is absolutely the franchise quarterback of the future, and present, for the Broncos. Denver should look to give Nix as many pass receivers as possible. Luther Burden III could not build on a very impressive sophomore season, but I am still a believer in his talent. He is a smart route runner and has the ability to gain those tough yards after catch.
21	Pittsburgh Steelers	WR Matthew Golden, Texas – 5’11, 191 lbs	58 rec, 987 yards, 9 TD	George Pickens is a keeper at receiver, but the Steelers need more pass catchers. Matthew Golden led all receivers with a blazing 4.29 40-yard dash, which could propel him into the first round. He averaged 17 yards per reception and hauled in 9 touchdowns, so his big play ability is evident.
22	Los Angeles Chargers	DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon – 6’5, 313 lbs	45 tackles, 5 sacks	Jim Harbaugh and company want to build this team from the trenches out. There is not a lot to be excited about on the defensive line. Derrick Harmon would be a perfect fit as a big, strong defensive end for the Chargers 3-4 defense. He has drawn some Cameron Heyward comparisons.
23	Green Bay Packers	CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky – 5’11, 183 lbs	67 tackles, ,5 INT	The Packers may have the deepest roster in the NFL. It is tough to find obvious needs, but the secondary could quickly become one. Eric Stokes is a free agent and Jaire Alexander has struggled mightily to stay heathy. It is important not to overreact to the combine, but it can help separate players who are lumped together with several others. Maxwell Hairston killed the combine, running a 4.28 40-yard dash, which led all prospects. His sophomore season showed what he is capable of, when he picked up 66 tackles and picked off 5 passes.
24	Minnesota Vikings	SS Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina – 6’3, 220 lbs	88 tackles, 4 INT	Not only do the Vikings have holes at cornerback, but the safety position needs upgrades as well. Harrison Smith is nearing the end of a fantastic career and Camryn Bynum is a free agent. I have had Malaki Starks and Nick Emmanwori ranked equally as far as safety prospects go, but Emmanwori’s combine performance may have pushed him over the edge. He is a top notch athlete, who is built like a linebacker but runs like a cornerback.
25	Houston Texans	SS Malaki Starks, Georgia – 6’1, 197 lbs	77 tackles 1 INT	Safety is not the biggest need for Houston, but Malaki Starks may be too talented to pass up here. I do not see him as a top fifteen pick, but he represents great value here. He is your classic hybrid safety. He plays the passing game like a cornerback, and is a strong tackler against the run. He also has the ability to play some cornerback as well.
26	Los Angeles Rams	WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State – 6’1, 202 lbs	81 rec, 1011 yard,s 10 TD	Despite going seven years without a first round pick, the Rams have drafted well enough to plug quite a few holes on their roster. There are still several needs, however. Cooper Kupp will probably be moving on via trade, and Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell are free agents. The Rams will be on the lookout for a receiver to pair with Puka Nacua. Emeka Egbuka looks a lot like former teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He is ready made to run his sets out of the slot, and is a strong route runner with a knack for catching touchdowns.
27	Baltimore Ravens	OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State – 6’5, 317 lbs	N/A	Baltimore will always a team that needs to draft very well, since it does not often use free agency to plug holes. This is a team that prides itself on the run game. Starting offensive linemen Ronnie Stanley and Patrick Mekari are both upcoming free agents. If the Ravens bring Stanley back, Josh Simmons should be able to slide in at guard or move to the right side, kicking Roger Rosengarten inside.
28	Detroit Lions	DE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State – 6’5, 260 lbs	59 tackles, 9 sacks	It was a bitter end to the season for the Lions, who gave up 45 points to a rookie quarterback in its playoff loss. The defense needs to get better. Jack Sawyer had a nice college career at Ohio State, and capped it off with a dominating performance during the Buckeyes run to the National Championship. He may lack the pure athleticism to be a superstar, but is a very solid all around end who should be able to remain on the field for all three downs.
29	Washington Commanders	DE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College – 6’3, 248 lbs	80 tackles, 16.5 sacks	Despite a fantastic season for Washington, this is still a roster with big holes. The team has struggled to replace Montez Sweat and Chase Young as pass rushers. Fortunately, the late first round has quite a few guys to fill that role. Donovan Ezeiruaku exploded as a senior, going from 2 sacks as a junior to 16.5 during his final collegiate season. He capped off his impressive year by owning the combine, likely stamping a ticket to the last first round. He is a bit undersized, but he can get after the quarterback.
30	Buffalo Bills	CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina	8 tackles, 2 INT	The Bills have struggled to find consistency in its secondary. The safety duo could stand to get upgraded, and Rasul Douglas is a free agent at cornerback. 2022 first rounder Kaiir Elam has yet to pan out, and this is a big team need. Shavon Revel Jr. was off to a fantastic start during his junior year before an injury wiped it out before it could get started. Buffalo will have to be patient, but this is a pick that could pan off in a big way. Revel Jr. is tall, quick and disruptive.
31	Kansas City Chiefs	OT Gray Zabel, North Dakota State – 6’6, 312 lbs	N/A	The Chiefs will use the franchise tag on Trey Smith, but it could be to acquire something back in a trade instead of losing him for nothing. It will be tough for this team to pay him what he is worth. Even if he returns, the offensive line showed during the Super Bowl that it needs improvement. Grey Zabel has gone from a late two day pick to a potential first rounder, thanks to a great Senior Bowl and combine performance. He has strong positional versatility, and could start anywhere along the offensive line.
32	Philadelphia Eagles	TE Colston Loveland, Michigan – 6’6, 248 lbs	56 rec, 582 yards, 5 TD	The Super Bowl champions might have the deepest roster in the NFL, so they can afford to pounce on a falling talent like Colston Loveland. Loveland, at times, was Michigan’s entire offense. He is a long time starter waiting to happen, and could take over for Dallas Goedert following the 2025 season.